Semi-solid compositions for removing cured product

ABSTRACT

A composition including at least one solvent for cured product and at least one gelling or solidifying agent. The invention also provides a composition described above which is in the form of a soft solid, for example, in the form of a stick. A pack is also provided, comprising (i) a shaped mass of a composition, which includes at least one solvent for a cured product and at least one gelling or solidifying agent and a container ( 1 ) for the composition. The container ( 1 ) has a mechanism for expelling the shaped mass.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to semi-solid cured product removingcompositions, particularly well suited to removal of cured product forexample polymerized adhesive, from a substrate. In particular thesemi-solid cured product removing compositions of the present inventionare suited to removal of cured adhesives such as polycyanoacrylate fromsubstrates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RELATED TECHNOLOGY

Many types of curable products including adhesives are known and arewell documented. Known curable products may be aerobic or anaerobic(cure in the absence of air) and may be formulated in one-or two-partcompositions. The curable products may be adhesives, coatings, sealantsand such like.

Many curable products present a certain amount of difficulty to users.For instance if curable product is spilled, misplaced, or otherwisemakes its way onto an undesired substrate and cures there, it can bedifficult to remove later on. Cured product can be removed for exampleby scraping, by use of further solvent or otherwise. One typicalscenario is where the user of, for example an adhesive, mishandles,applies incorrectly or spills the product resulting in unwanted curingof the product, which may be on the skin of the hands etc. Instantadhesives are particularly prone to curing at unintended sites as theyleave little or no time for removal before curing. Removal by washingwith detergent or solvent may help to remove cured product. Solvents maybe volatile evaporating before they have acted sufficiently on the curedproduct to assist in its removal. Cyanoacrylates are examples ofadhesives which are commonly available. Most cyanoacrylate adhesives areinstant adhesives curing within a short time of being applied. The curespeed of cyanoacrylates is often of the order of seconds or fractions ofa second so that these products are difficult to remove.

It would however be desirable to provide a convenient way to remove suchpolymerized or cured composition which allowed for ease and convenienceof removal of cured product. It would be particularly desirable toprovide, an easy to use cured product remover, which could be easilyapplied to the undesired cured product and which would assist in theremoval of the cured product.

It is well known for instance to formulate adhesives as “stick”compositions. The patent literature on stick adhesives is extensive andcovers a broad range of adhesive types, from emulsion adhesives throughsolvent based adhesives, to contact adhesives as well as gelling andsolidifying additives for the preparation of the sticks ranging fromthermosetting through natural polymers to inert fillers. A well knownexample of one such adhesive stick sold under the trade name PrittStick™by Henkel KGaA which is an emulsion-based adhesive.

In the patent literature the following patents typify adhesivecomponents which have been formulated as soft-solids, and moreparticularly sticks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,775 discloses an adhesive stickconsisting of a water based preparation of starch derivatives and a soapgel as the shaping gel-forming component. See also U.S. Pat. No.5,371,131.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,363 relates to an adhesive crayon compositioncontaining a sorbitol-benzaldehyde reaction product as an additive. U.S.Pat. No. 4,639,475 discloses an adhesive stick composed of the reactionproduct of sorbitol and/or xylitol and benzaldehyde as the gel-formingcomposition together with an adhesive resin which is the reactionproduct of methyl vinyl ether/maleic acid anhydride copolymers withpartially neutralised acid phosphate esters of non-ionic wetting agentsof the lower alkylene oxide adduct type. Any of the gelling orsolidifying agents of the prior art may be used in the presentinvention.

Japanese unexamined patent application laid open (Kokai) 51-103939describes a stick-like epoxy adhesive and a stick-like epoxy hardeningagent which is used therewith. The sticks are obtained by suitablycompounding gelling agent or/and water and/or organic solvent withliquid or solution type epoxy adhesive and epoxy hardening agent.

DE 199 57 677 A1, published after the priority date of the presentapplication, of Henkel KGaA, describes a cyanoacrylate adhesive, coatingor sealing material which also contains at least one condensationproduct of an aldehyde or ketone with a polyol. The adhesive may be instick form.

While a wide variety of sticks have been described, no previoussuggestion has been made that a cured product removal composition couldbe made in stick form.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides cured product removing compositionsuitable for formulation/presentation in stick form. The compositionsare particularly useful for removal of cured adhesive for examplepolymerized cyanoacrylate adhesive. The compositions are easy to applyand handle allowing for accuracy in application without running on. Theycan be easily and conveniently applied to the desired site and willremain there until removed.

In particular the present invention provides:

a cured product removing composition including:

(a) at least one solvent for cured product; and

(b) at least one gelling or solidifying agent, which is solidified instick form.

The composition, in contrast to known adhesive sticks is absent anycured or uncured polymerizable product. Known adhesive sticks are notsuitable for use as cured product removers as these sticks containpolymerizable compounds which will polymerize exacerbating rather thanalleviating the problem. It is clear therefore to the person skilled inthe art that therefore no polymerisable monomer, or polymerised polymerin the composition, or in the stick if the composition is in stick form.The composition thus consists essentially of components (a) and (b). Thecomposition does not include any components(s) which effect its abilityto remove cured products. Components which could potentially effect itsability to remove cured products include polymerisablemonomers/oligomers such as those of cyanoacrylate. It will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the solvents which areuseful for polymerized compounds are distinct from those which aresuitable for the monomer or oligomer which polymerizes to form the curedproduct. The compositions of the present invention are most likely to beapplied at room temperature under ambient conditions.

The composition is easily cast in stick form and is very useful in thisrespect. The present invention thus provides a cured product removingcomposition. In particular the cured product removing composition hasbeen demonstrated as being particularly useful for removal of curedadhesive such as cyanoacrylate.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the preparation anduse of a cured product removing composition in stick form. Suitably thecomposition is in the form of a soft-solid. The composition may beformulated in stick form for example by casting.

Component (b) is suitably the product of at least one aldehyde and/orketone condensation reaction with a polyol.

Suitable polyols include those with at least one of a 1,2-diol, 1,3 diolor 1,4 diol structure. The diols may additionally have other groups suchas ether, acid, amido, cyano, hemiacetal or halogen. Examples ofsuitable polyols include 1,2-ethandiol, 1,3-propandiol, 1,2-propandiol,2,3-butandiol, 1,4-butandiol, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propandiol,2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propandiol,2-(bromomethyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propandiol, 1,3,4-butantriol,1-phenyl-1,2,3-propantriol, 1,2-hexandiol, neopentylglycol,1,4-bishydroxymethylcyclohexane, 2-methyl-1,3-propandiol,hexantriol-(1,2,6), 2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)butan-1,3,4-glycerine, di andpolyglycerine, diglycerindiacetate, trimethylolpropane,di-(trimethylolpropane), trimethylolethane, pentaerythritol, bicyclo[2.2.1] heptane-2,3,5,6-tetrol, 2,2,3,3-tetrahydroxybutandiacid,dipentaerythritol, sorbitol, formitol, xylitol, inositol, glucitol,glucose, saccharose/sucrose, starch, cellulose, ascorbic acid, partiallyor fully hydrolysed polyvinylacetate, 9,10-dihydroxy stearic acid methylester, diacetylsorbitol and methylglyceride.

Most suitable polyols are sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol especiallysorbitol.

Suitable aldehyde or ketones include those which have at least onesubstituted or unsubstituted aromatic, heteroaromatic or alicylic ring.These polyols may have additional groups such as ether ester, amide,cyano and halogen.

Examples of ketones include cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone,cycloheptanone, 1-(3,3-dimethylcyclohexyl)-ethanone,1-cyclopropylethanone, 3-methyl-5-propylcyclohex-2-en-1-one,dicyclopropylmethanone, 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone,dicyclohexylmethanone, 4-methylcyclohexanone,1-(1-methylcyclopropyl)-ethanone,(4-chlorophenyl)-cyclopropyl-methanone, 1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-ethanone,1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-ethanone, 1-(2-furanyl)-2-propanone,1-(2-naphthalenyl)-ethanone, 1-(2-thienyl)-1-propanone,1-(4-bromophenyl)-ethanone, 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-ethanone,1-(naphthalenyl)-ethanone, 1,1-diphenyl-2-propanone,1,2-diphenylethanone, 1,3-diphenyl-2-propanone, 1-phenyl-1-butanone,1-phenyl-1-decanone, 1-phenyl-1-dodecanone, 1-phenyl-1-hexanone,1-phenyl-1-octanone, 1-phenyl-1-pentanone, 1-phenyl-1-penten-3-one,1-phenyl-1-tetradecanone, 1-phenyl-2-butanone, 1-phenyl-2-propanone,1-pyrazinyl-ethanone, 2,2,2-trifluoro-1-phenyl-ethanone,1-(2-furanyl)-ethanone, 1-(2-pyridinyl)-ethanone,1-(2-thienyl)-ethanone, 4-chloro-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-butanone,4-phenyl-2-butanone, 1-phenyl-ethanone, bis-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-methanone,bis-(4-chlorophenyl)-methanone, cyclopentylphenylmethanone,cyclopropyl(4-methoxyphenyl)-methanone,cyclopropyl-(4-methylphenyl)-methanone, cyclopropyl-2-thienyl-methanone,cyclopropylphenylmethanone, 1,5-diphenyl-1,4-pentadien-3-one,phenyl-2-pyridinyl-methanone, 2-bromo-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-ethanone,2-naphthalenylphenyl-methanone, 3-chloro-1-phenyl-1-propanone,4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one,1-(4-pyridinyl)-ethanone, 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-ethanone,1-phenyl-1-propanone, 4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one, diphenylmethanone,1-phenyl-2-butanone, 1-phenyl-2-buten-1-one,bis-(4-methylphenyl)-methanone, 2-methyl-1-phenyl-1-propanone,2-chloro-1-phenyl-ethanone, cyclopropyl-(4-fluorophenyl)-methanone,1-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2-propanone, cyclohexylphenylmethanone andphenyl-(2-thienyl)-methanone.

The following aldehydes are exemplary of those suitable for use in thepresent invention benzaldehyde, 3-chlorobenzaldehyde,4-chlorobenzaldehyde, 2,6-dichlorobenzaldehyde, 2,4-dinitrobenzaldehyde,3,4-dichlorobenzaldehyde, 3-fluorobenzaldehyde, 4-bromobenzaldehyde,2-methyltetrahydrobenzaldehyde, tetrahydrobenzaldehyde,2-methyl-5-isopropylcyclopenten-1-aldehyde,2,2,4-trimethylcyclohexa-4,6-dien-1-aldehyde,3(4)-methyl-1-propylcyclohexen-3-aldehyde,1,3(4)-dimethylcyclohexen-3-aldehyde,2-methyl-1-propylcyclohexen-3-aldehyde, 3-cyclohexen-1-aldehyde,2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzaldehyde, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde,4-tolylacetaldehyde, 2-methylbenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde,3-methylbenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalaldehyde,4-methylbenzaldehyde, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde,cinnam-aldehyde, 3-nitrobenzaldehyde, 2-pentylcinnamaldehyde,4-diethylaminobenzaldehyde, 4-methoxybenzaldehyde,2-phenylpropionaldehyde, 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde, 4-methylbenzaldehyde,phenoxyacetaldehyde, methylpyrrol-2-aldehyde,2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran-3-aldehyde,2,5-dipropyl-3,4-dihydropyran-2-aldehyde,2,5-diethyl-3,4-dihydropyran-2-aldehyde,2,5-diisopropyl-3,4-dihydropyran-2-aldehyde,2,5-dimethyl-3,4-dihydropyran-2-aldehyde,2,5-dibutyl-3,4-dihydropyran-2-aldehyde, thiophen-3-aldehyde,indol-3-aldehyde, pyridine-3-aldehyde, pyridine-4-aldehyde andn-methylpyrrole-2-aldehyde.

Desirable aldehydes include benzaldehyde, 3-chlorobenzaldehyde and3-fluorobenzaldehyde.

Particular acetals and ketals include: di-O-benzylidenmannitol,di-O-(2-chlorobenzylidene)mannitol, di-O-(4-nitrobenzylidene)mannitol,di-O-(3-fluorobenzylidene)mannitol, O-benzylidenesorbitol,di-O-benzylidenesorbitoldiacetate,di-O-(2-chlorobenzylidene)sorbitoldiacetate,tri-O-(4-chlorobenzylidene)sorbitol, O-benzylidenethreitol,O-benzylidene tartaric acid methylester, O-cyclohexylidenglycerine,O-cyclohexylidene ascorbic acid and O-benzylidene-9,10-dihydroxy stearicacid methylester.

Suitably the aldehyde is benzaldehyde, 3-chlorobenzaldehyde or3-fluorobenzaldehyde especially benzaldehyde. Suitably the polyol issorbitol, xylitol or mannitol especially sorbitol. The condensationproduct may be di-O-benzylidene mannitol; di-O-(3-fluorobenzylidene)mannitol or di-O-benzylidene sorbitol especially di-O-benzylidenesorbitol.

Suitable gelling agents for inclusion as component (b) include acetalsof sugars, particularly acetals of sorbitol, which are particularlyeffective as gelling agents. One such gelling agent includesdi-O-dibenzylidene sorbitol (also referred to simply as dibenzylidenesorbitol) sold by Roquette Freres, France under the trademarkDisorbene™. Other acetals such as those described above have also beenfound to be useful.

Acetals of sugars, particularly natural sugars, for example acetals ofsorbitol, have been previously used as gelling agents for thepreparation in stick form and these materials are useful in the presentinvention.

Component (b) the gelling or solidifying agent is useful for thepreparation of a stick from the compositions of the present invention.

Suitably component (b) the gelling or solidifying agent has aconcentration in the solvent from about 0.01% to about 20%, such asabout 0.01% to about 15%, typically from about 0.05% to about 10% forexample about 0.1% to about 5% weight by weight based on the totalweight of the composition.

Suitably component (a) the solvent for (dissolving or swelling) curedproduct comprises an organic solvent in which the target cured productmay be at least partially soluble. Component (a) may be an organicsolvent selected from at least one of the following:

(i) carbonates such as propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate

(ii) ketones, such as acetone, diethyl ketone, dipropyl ketone,diisopropyl ketone, methyl isopropyl ketone, methyl butyl ketone, methylisobutyl ketone, ethyl propyl ketone,

(iii) esters such as ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, cyanoacetates forexample ethyl cyanoacetate, methyl cyanoacetate, propyl cyanoacetate andbutyl cyanoacetate and lactones such as gamma butyrolactone,

(iv) hydrocarbons, in particular aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene,toluene and xylene,

(v) sulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide,

(vi) those containing at least one amine group such asdimethylformamide, and

(viii) nitroalkanes such as nitromethane.

Desirably the solvent is propylene carbonate. Also desired for use inthe present invention are the cyanoacetates for example ethylcyanoacetate, methyl cyanoacetate, propyl cyanoacetate and butylcyanoacetate.

It will be appreciated that the above mentioned solvents could begrouped in many different ways. The above solvents have been grouped inthis particular way for ease of discussion. The solvent is for thepolymerized product, for example polycyanoacrylate, and it will beapparent to persons skilled in the art which solvent is appropriate inthe circumstances. It will be appreciated also that mixtures of solventscan also be used.

Many of the solvents useful in the compositions of the present inventionare relatively volatile though they remain where applied in thecompositions of the invention for a substantially longer period than theneat solvent would tend to remain. The solvent is thus applied in aconvenient form directly to the substrate to be cleaned and the solventwill tend not to evaporate.

The function of the solvent is to assist dislodging of the curedproduct. This is achieved by the action of the solvent on thepolymerized product. As relatively small amounts of solvent may beapplied by the user there may not be in any given instance sufficientsolvent to solubilize the entire amount of polymerized product. Howeverthe solvent does assist in the removal of the product nonetheless aseven relatively small amounts of the solvent can act on the productcausing it to swell. The swelling of the product is the result ofdebonding of the product caused by the action of the solvent and theproduct may become soft and exhibit a sticky or gummy consistency. Theproduct is then easily removed for example by washing or scraping. Theterm “partially dissolving” as used herein with reference to solventsused in the present invention includes solvents or mixtures of solventswhich cause this swelling effect.

The cast stick form is particularly desirable as this allows the productremoving composition to be applied in a convenient form. A coating ofthe composition of selected thickness can be applied to the curedproduct and left to act. The composition gradually causes the curedproduct to swell over time to a soft and gummy consistency. The curedproduct is then in a convenient for removal. Therefore, any commonsolvent (or mixture of solvents) in which the cured product dissolves orpartially dissolves including those solvents (or mixture of solvents)which will cause the cured product to swell will suffice. The skilledperson will know to choose the appropriate solvent(s) for removal of thecured product in question. It will be appreciated that the cured productmay be only partially cured at the time it is desired to remove it. Theother requirement is that the solvent is one which can be solidified bycomponent (b) at the least one gelling or solidifying agent.

Desirably the composition when solidified has the consistency of asoft-solid or waxy mass. The rheological properties of the mass ofproduct should be such that the mass has a stable geometric shape. It isdesirable that the shaped mass e.g. a stick, is applicable by manualrubbing against the substrate to which it is to be applied. The soft orsemi-solid mass should be shearable under relatively modest manualpressure to allow for ease of application. It is desirable that theshaped mass retains its shape, for example when stored at 20° C. for anumber of days, more desirably for a number of weeks or months. Thecompositions exemplified herein have proven to be stable (and active)over a number of months and were still active a year later (and lookedlike remaining active over a further substantial period) when storedunder such conditions. The cast composition has the ease of handlingadvantages of a completely solid material yet remains easilydispensable. PrittStick™ is one commercially available semi-solid masssold as an adhesive stick which is well known to be dispensable byrubbing to the substrate to which it is desired to be applied and whichhas a consistency which is very similar to the soft-solids of thepresent invention.

The invention also relates to the solidified product of a composition asdescribed above. Suitably the composition is solidified in a desiredgeometric form, for example in a cylindrical shape. Any suitable shapewhich allows for ease or handling is desired and such shapes aretypically referred to as sticks.

One method of preparing a soft-solid or semi-solid mass of thecomposition includes the steps of:

(i) heating a composition comprising: (a) at least one solvent for(dissolving or partially dissolving) cured product; and (b) at least onegelling or solidifying agent to a desired temperature; and

(ii) allowing the composition to cool or cooling the compositionsufficiently to set the composition.

Typically the composition will set (solidify to a soft-solid) at atemperature of below about 30° C. for example at about 15-21° C.

The invention also relates to a shaped mass prepared by the method justdescribed and particularly a mass shaped in a stick form.

It will be appreciated that if the composition is cast before cooling toits set temperature then it will take the shape of the container ormould in which it is cast. It is desirable that the composition be castin a desired geometric shape for example as a stick for example a stickof a generally cylindrical shape. The person skilled in the art willappreciate that the pre-and post-casting composition will haveessentially the same compositional make-up, with mainly physical changesfrom liquid to solid occurring during casting. Little or no solvent willbe lost during the casting process. The concentration of the variouscomponents thus remains essentially unchanged as between the liquid andsolidified (pre- and post-casting) compositions.

In a further aspect the invention provides a method of removing curedproduct from a substrate comprising contacting a sufficient amount of acomposition according to the present invention with the cured product(for a sufficient period) to at least partially remove the curedproduct. The composition of the present invention may suitably beapplied by (manually) rubbing the remover stick to the cured product thesubstrate. The composition of the invention may act by at leastpartially dissolving or swelling the cured product.

The invention thus discloses the use of at least one gelling orsolidifying agent in the manufacture of a castable cured product removalcomposition.

The invention also provides an easy to use and consumer-friendly packcomprising:

(i) a shaped mass of a composition according to the invention (a castcomposition); and

(ii) a container for the composition, the container having a mechanismfor expelling the shaped mass. The pack may thus be sold as an articleof commerce.

For example the container may have a mechanism for moving the shapedmass between a position where the shaped mass projects from thecontainer, and a position where the shaped mass is substantially located(retracted) within the container. The composition is thus expellable.Suitably the container is a tubular container.

The composition may be cast directly in the container. The container maybe of the type having a displaceable mechanism for example a carrier fordisplacing the mass of the composition relative to the container. Thecarrier may move the mass so that it projects from the container, orretract the mass so that it is housed within the container. In this waythe mass may be extended for application to a substrate or retracted forstorage. The container may comprise a cap for protection of the masswhen the composition is not in use. Desirably the container has meansfor manual adjustment of the position of the mass or carrier, forexample where the carrier is reciprocally threaded on a windingmechanism and can thus be extended or retracted by rotation of thewinding mechanism in one of two directions.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a multitude ofsuitable containers may be used with the shapes masses or sticks of thepresent invention. Typically used containers are those with propulsion(expelling) mechanisms to propel the stick out of the container. Manysuch containers are known for example for deodorants/anti-perspirants,and make-up such as lipstick etc. The stick compositions of the presentinvention can thus be considered “remover sticks” for example glueremover sticks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side (part-sectional) elevational view of a containersuitable for holding the composition of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a top view of a carrier which forms part of the container ofFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A container for holding a cast (solidified) composition of the inventionis now described.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a container 1 suitable for holding acomposition of the present invention. The container is tubular beingcylindrical in cross-section having cylindrical side walls 2. On thebase of the container is a knurled wheel 3 which forms part of apropulsion mechanism for a (soft-solid or semi-solid) mass or stick 4 ofthe cured product removal composition of the present invention. The mass4 has been cast in a generally cylindrical shape as described in theExamples below. The container 10 further comprises a cap 5 which issnap-fit engageable over the top end 6 of the container 1 to protect themass 4 of product. The top end 6 is of lesser diameter than the sidewalls 2 and has a rim 7 which engages in a corresponding recess on theunderside of the cap 5 to secure the cap 5 in place.

The knurled wheel 3 is attached to an elongate drive or winding shaft 8which is centrally located within the housing formed by the side wallsof the container. On the winding shaft 8 is located a moveable carrier9. The carrier 9 is generally cylindrical (from an end view thereof seefor example FIG. 2) and has a short peripheral upstanding wall 10 formedon its base 11. During the casting process the carrier 9 is positionedto secure itself to the lower end 12 of the mass 4 on solidification ofthe mass 4. Indeed the mass 4 may be cast also with the shaft 8 (andoptionally the wheel 3) in place. As best seen from FIG. 2 the carrier 9has a central threaded aperture 13 in which the threads 16 of the shaft8 engage. The knurled wheel 3 and the shaft 8 are both mounted forrelative rotation to the container body. When the wheel 3 is turned inthe direction of the arrow it moves the carrier up or down the shaft 8thus controlling the relative position of the mass and the container. Inthe position shown the carrier has travelled part way up the shaft,moving the mass to a position where it protrudes from the container. Themass can then be applied by rubbing against a substrate by manual force.Sufficient shearing of the mass takes place to allow it to rub off ontothe substrate. No separate applicator/brush etc. is necessary. Thecomposition can be applied with manual pressure. To prevent rotation ofthe carrier 9 with the shaft, elongate ribs 14 are provided on opposingsides of the internal wall of the container. The ribs 14 run from thebase of the container to a position proximate to the mouth if thecontainer. The ribs 14 each engage one of corresponding grooves 15 inthe carrier 9 thus preventing relative rotation of the container and thecarrier and ensuring that the carrier moves upwardly or downwardly whenthe shaft 8 turns. The carrier 9 and the mass 4 can be retracted byrotation of the wheel 3 in an opposing direction.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” whenused herein with reference to the present invention are used to specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but doesnot preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

The following examples will serve to illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLES

General

In the following examples the dibenzylidene sorbitol used was theproduct Disorbene™ described above.

Example 1

1.0 g of dibenzylidene sorbitol was dissolved in propylene carbonate (50g) with vigorous stirring and the solution allowed to cool for a shortperiod. The solution was then cast into empty stick cartridges of thetype typically used for adhesives such as PrittStick™ (and as describedabove) and was allowed to cool to room temperature. During this time thesolution solidified. The solidified stick was clear (transparent)resembling a frozen mass. The solid cured product removal stick couldthen be extruded using the cartridges inbuilt propulsion mechanism.

The remover composition of the present invention was applied to apolycyanoacrylate stain on a mild steel lap and allowed to stand for 2to 3 hours. The polycyanoacrylate stain could then be removed by rubbingwith a wooden scraper. Normally much greater force would be required. Asmall amount of residue was easily removed with soapy water.

Example 2

A solution containing the following components was prepared as describedin Example 1:

(i) Loctite “Glue Remover*” 10.0 g and (ii) dibenzylidene sorbitol 0.2g. The solution solidified to form a mass as described in Example 1. Thecomposition was effective as a remover of polycyanoacrylate.

(*available through Loctite sales and distribution outletsinternationally for example from Loctite (Ireland) Limited, Tallaght,Dublin, Ireland.)

Example 3

A solution containing the following components was prepared as describedin Example 1:

(i) Ethyl cyanoacrylate 10.0 g and (ii) dibenzylidene sorbitol 0.2 g.The solution solidified to form a mass as described in Example 1. Thecomposition was effective as a remover of polycyanoacrylate.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cured product removing composition comprising:(i) at least one solvent for the cured product; and (ii) at least onegelling or solidifying agent, wherein the composition is solidified instick form.
 2. A composition according to claim 1 wherein thecomposition is in the form of a soft-solid.
 3. A composition accordingto claim 1 wherein component (b) is the condensation product of thereaction between a member selected from the group consisting of analdehyde, ketone, and combinations thereof, and a polyol.
 4. Acomposition according to claim 3 wherein the aldehyde is a memberselected from the group consisting of benzaldehyde,3-chlorobenzaldehyde, 3-fluorobenzaldehyde and combinations thereof. 5.A composition according to claim 3 wherein the polyol is a memberselected from the group consisting of sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol andcombinations thereof.
 6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein thegelling or solidifying agent is an acetal of sugar.
 7. A compositionaccording to claim 1 wherein the gelling or solidifying agent is anacetal of sorbitol.
 8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein thegelling or solidifying agent is a dibenzylidene sorbitol.
 9. Acomposition according to claim 1 wherein the gelling or solidifyingagent has a concentration in the range of from about 0.01% to about 20%weight by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
 10. Acomposition according to claim 9 wherein component (b) the gelling orsolidifying agent has a concentration in the range of from about 0.1 toabout 5% weight by weight based on the total weight og the composition.11. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component (a) is anorganic solvent selected from at least one of the following: (i)carbonates, (ii) ketones, (iii) esters, acetonitrile, and cyanoacetates,(iv) hydrocarbons, (v) sulfoxides, (vi) compounds comprising at leastone amine group, and (viii) nitroalkanes.
 12. A composition according toclaim 11 wherein component (a) propylene carbonate.
 13. A compositionaccording to claim 11 wherein component (a) is one or more cyanoacetatesselected from the group consisting of ethyl cyanoacetate, methylcyanoacetate, propyl cyanoacetate and butyl cyanoacetate.
 14. Asolidified product of a composition according to claim 1, which issolidifies in a cylindrical form.
 15. A method of preparing a soft-solidor semi-solid mass of the composition according to claim 1, the steps ofwhich include: (i) heating a composition comprising: (a) at least onesolvent for dislodging cured product; and (b) at least one gelling orsolidifying agent, to a desired temperature; and (ii) allowing thecomposition to cool or cooling the composition sufficiently to set thecomposition.
 16. A shaped mass prepared by the method of claim 15 shapedin a stick form.
 17. A method of removing cured product from a substratecomprising contacting a sufficient amount of a composition according toclaim 1 with the cured product to at least partially dislodge the curedproduct.
 18. A pack comprising: (i) a shaped mass of a compositionsolidifies in stick form according to claim 1; and (ii) a container forthe composition, the container having a mechanism for expelling theshaped mass.